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Location = Log Cabin Village. 6086 Hwy 117, Mentone AL. The village is open 7 days/week, but the hours may change for Holidays. Mentone is a small mountain town with friendly people & full of unique little surprises. See photo up top.

The little Log Cabin Village has 10 log cabins, and each one is a gift shop selling mostly hand crafted items or specialty treats. The shops are adorable and a fun way to find that perfect little treasure.

We bought some hand-made soaps which are almost always much healthier than store bought soaps which have unhealthy and toxic ingredients. See: Toxic, Don't Buy Dirty.

Many hand made soaps also use essential oils which are healthy & healing. They help with things like sinus conditions, itchy or dry skin, and calming or mood lifting scents. The dry skin soap smells heavenly with Ylang Ylang in it, plus it's soft & moisturizing.

The Log Cabin Village also has ice cream, which my daughter insisted on getting. She claims it's an awesome treat even on cold days. Me, I like cold stuff on hot days and hot stuff on cold days.... call me crazy!

Wildflower Cafe

Location = Wildflower Cafe. 6007 Hwy 117, Mentone AL.

I'm hungry.....well, maybe a bit hangry - we were intrigued by the outside decor & had to check it out. We were happy to see the whimsical vibe carried into the inside. After eating - we can definitely say it was worth the 30 minute wait to get seated.

The food was delicious, and we even splurged and shared a dessert. YUM. My only recommendation - just don't wait until your hunger pangs are loud enough to scare off the squirrels!

The Wildflower Cafe isn't a quick in and out kind of place. The unspoken invitation is to relax & enjoy the company you're with as you slowly savor every delightful mouthful.

Location = St. Joseph's on the Mountain Church. 21145 Scenic Hwy, Mentone AL. Their Facebook page says It's always open to the public. It's an active church with services on Sunday morning. No entry fee, however donations are welcome. For some reason, it was locked when we went.

St. Joseph's on the Mountain is really interesting and only 1 1/2 blocks from the Log Cabin Village, so it's worth the visit. Notice the itty-bitty log cabin squeezed in between the 2 arched entrances. It's certainly not your typical church. The little log cabin was originally built as a family home in 1870.

In 1880 it was relocated to it's current location, and lived in for 85 years. The cabin was small & simple, with an upstairs sleeping loft, and the addition of a lean-to kitchen. In 1965, a retired priest started a daily chapel service in the cabin some time after it was vacated.

Over time the attendees grew and they soon realized more space was needed. Finally in 1974 they began construction on the new church. At the time, they wanted to preserve the history of St. Joseph's on the Mountain by incorporating the little log cabin into it's design. It's for sure unique and we were disappointed we couldn't see the inside. The stain glass photos look stunning, and the pews have some interesting history.

Location = Mentone Wedding Chapel. 614 Road 948, Mentone, AL.

The Mentone Wedding Chapel still holds weddings. It's a replica of the early Appalachian churches which began to appear around the mid-1700's. The Wedding Chapel is so charming - complete with a bell & steeple and stained glass windows & front door.

It stands alone in a peaceful setting. I recommend going between spring and summer a green & lush forest landscape, or to see the fall colors.

The Mentone Wedding Chapel won't win a "gold" medal, but it's adorable & historical. Who knows - maybe you're looking to get married in 1800's charm, in a small & intimate setting. Their website says there's a "fifty-candle candelabrum that encircles the wedding party...." Sounds perfectly romantical.

Location = Rock Church. Corner of County Roads 165 & 617, Mentone AL. Also known as Sallie Howard Memorial Church. This is a roadside stop.

The Rock Church looks like an ordinary church of it's time - until you get a look around back. Well, THAT'S different. Sallie Howard was the first wife of Colonel Milford Howard. (Milford..... is that really a baby name?) Anyway, Sallie was born in California in 1925, and when she passed Milford wanted to replicate a European church they once visited together.

He chose a spot on the property where he could use a massive boulder as a wall ornament to build the Sallie Howard Memorial Church. On the inside, the stone boulder makes for an awesome, and one-of-a-kind feature. Just curious - wouldn't it leak, or at least be wet? He completed it in 1937 and then passed a few months later.

Written above the stone altar inside the Rock Church as it's called, is a line from Sallie's last letter to Milford. She said "God has all ways been as good to me as I would let him be." As I looked at this rock protruding out from the building - I didn't know whether to call the Colonel a genius....or a little cray-cray. That's "crazy" in my language!

Location = DeSoto Falls. From Mentone, head southwest on Hwy 117, then left on Tutwiler Gap, then left on Co. Rd 613. The 613 turns into Desoto Falls Rd and ends in a parking lot loop. Cheap entrance fee.

The DeSoto Falls Picnic Area includes a playground & boat launch ramp, so bring your favorite water toys. The falls are just below the lake and the dam on the Little River.

The Park & waterfall were named after Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer who landed in Florida, May 1539 to scout for gold. De Soto and crew made their way thru North & South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama.

DeSoto Falls is literally right off the parking lot. Take the stairs down the 50 steps to a railed viewing area. It's a 104 foot waterfall and can be viewed from this vantage point, or from the other side. FYI: see the Trail info below under "More Fun Things to Do". You can also walk along the rock ledge right up to the falls.

DeSoto State Park

Location = DeSoto State Park. 7104 DeSoto Parkway NE, Ft. Payne AL.

DeSoto State Park was developed in the late 1930's with 3,502 acres and over 30 miles of hiking & mountain biking trails. The Park is family friendly and offers outdoor lovers some fun-filled options like bouldering & rappelling and plenty of awesome water activities.

DeSoto State Park also has a restaurant, an Olympic size swimming pool, an Interpretive Center with live animals, a museum, and various lodging options. You can easily spend a day here.

More Fun Things to Do

• Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort - 721 Co Rd 614, Mentone, offers a golf course, ski slope, the Little River, and cabin/chalet rentals.

• Little River Canyon National Preserve - 4322 Little River Trail #100, Fort Payne, said to be the nation's longest river on a mountain with a beautiful waterfall, hiking, biking, fishing, kayaking, and more.

• DeSoto Falls Trail - 986 Co Rd 613, Mentone, the easiest trail is .9 miles roundtrip to the overlook area. The other 2 trails take you to the basin and should be rated moderate for the rocky & steep incline.

• Hiking - the Preserve & State Park trails are mostly between 1 and 3.5 miles, with a few being much longer.

• Try this add on trip: Mountains of Fun & Treasure, AL.

Travel Tips - Mentone

• Average temps high/low = Summer 85/62 degrees F. Winter 47/25. AL ranks 3rd for most humidity & 6th for hurricanes. Possible tornados March-May. Expect some snow in higher mountain regions, like the Appalachians.

• Backpack essentials - water, bug spray, sunscreen, whistle, flashlight, cell phone, pocket knife, and a light jacket.

• Winter Essentials - thermal blanket, waterproof boots, and warm clothing.

• Hiking conditions - trails can be wet & slippery after summer rains. Prepare for snow in higher elevations.

• Vehicle safety – Keep a spare blanket, boots, jacket, gloves, and snacks in the car. Winter roads can be icy & covered in snow - use “winter” tires. If you only have "all season" tires, take snow chains.

• Wild animals - black bears are becoming more bold in parks & campsite areas mostly due to food. Coyotes, cougar, bobcat are also present.

• Trash - Pack out what you pack in.

• Rivers/lakes – river shoes are helpful. Heavy winter rains means deep, ice-cold & fast moving water.

• Poison oak - always know before you touch. 3 leaflets per stem, with slightly rounded tip. Poison ivy has the pointy leaf-tips.

• Snakes - There are 6 poisonous types - on land, water, and trees. They generally prefer to avoid humans, biting usually to avoid harm.

• Wilderness areas – take a buddy & tell someone your travel plans.

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